Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws during NFL football practice, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are scheduled to host the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 23.

If the Broncos expect to face a “ground and pound” team Sunday when they meet Pittsburgh in a first-round playoff game in Denver, they probably will be surprised by what they actually see from the Steelers.

The Steelers have a history of mixing dominant defense with a run-oriented playbook. They finished No. 1 in the NFL in defense this season, so they have that part covered. But the Steelers won’t be bringing a run-heavy offense to Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The last four seasons, they have thrown the ball more often than they have run it. And they have done that in five of the eight seasons that Ben Roethlisberger has been their starting quarterback.

The Steelers of the Roethlisberger era are more apt to spread out a defense and throw the ball. That’s especially true entering Sunday’s game because their leading rusher, tailback Rashard Mendenhall, is out with a knee injury.

Denver’s secondary is banged up. Veteran safety Brian Dawkins missed two of the Broncos’ last three games and didn’t play much in the other because of a neck injury. Also hurting are safety David Bruton (Achilles tendon) and cornerback Chris Harris (neck).

The Broncos occasionally played six defensive backs in their regular-season finale against Kansas City and may have to do that against the Steelers, who have four players (including three wideouts) with 46 or more receptions. Denver doesn’t have one 46-catch player. Two receivers — Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown — had a 1,000-yard season for Pittsburgh.

The Broncos' 2018 class of first-year players endured some lighthearted hazing after practice Tuesday in an annual event at UCHealth Training Center. Veterans played barber in the most hilarious (and mean) ways possible. Here is a collection of the best rookie haircuts this training camp.

The Rockies made a roster move on Tuesday in Houston ahead of the start of their six-game road trip, placing reliever Scott Oberg on the paternity list and recalling infielder Garrett Hampson from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move.